Typewriting machine



2 a /W 11 5 Wm umm Emw

May 13 ,'1924.

Patented May 13, R924.

n an srarss MMMZ PATENT @FFICE.

ALFRED G. F. KUROWSKI,

0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDER'WOOD TYPEWRITER CGMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE'WRITING- MACHINE.

Application filed April 25,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AIFRED Kunow- SKI, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to Gilld'hOild: ers for typewriting machines; that is to say, to devices for holding cards or other workpieces to the platen while printing is effectedv thereon. More particularly, the invention relates to card-holders for front-strike type-- writing machines, and to means for holding cards to the platen somewhat above or beyond the printing line to cause the same to lie smoothly and closely to the platenat the printing line regardless of any tendency which, because of their stiffness, they may have to bulge or springaway from the platen.

An object of the invention is the provision of means whereby a card-holder of the character mentioned may be detachably supported on paper-fingers, such, for instance, as the paper-fingers found in the Underwood standard portable typewriter at the front of the carriage for guiding theworlo sheets across the printing line and for holding the sheets marginally to the platen.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for supporting, on the front of the carriage, a card-holder in the form of a roller or equivalent device extending longitudinally of the platen from one to the other side of the printing point or station, and held yieldably to the platen.

An object of the invention is the provision of means whereby such a longitudinally-disposed cardholder may be adjusted lengthwise of the platen to accord to the selected position of the card on the latter. In this connection, a feature of the invention, in its preferred form, is the use, as a mounting for the card-holder, of paperfingers adjustable lengthwise of the platen in a well-known manner.

Other objects of the invention are the provision: of means whereby the card-holder may be positioned in the. machine when desired, and removed therefrom, when not desired, with great convenience and expeditionz of, means whereby the holder auto matically finds its correct position and is 1922. Serial N0. 556,405.

locked therein, when thrust onto its support: of means whereby the holder may be removedby a mere pull thereon: and of means for supporting the holder such that holders of various lengths may be interchanged at will on the supports.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a View, looking toward the platen from the front of the machine, showing the platen-frame and certain parts carried thereby, and showing the attachment of the present invention in operative relationto the platen.

Figure 2 is a view, in cross-sectional side elevation, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, ex cept that the card-holding attachment and the papentingers on which it is supported are shown in released or ineffective position with respect to the platen.

Figure 1 is a view, in cross-sectional side elevation, on the line 1- 1 of Figure 1; cer tain additional features, such as the paper apron, shift-frame and type-bar, being also shown;

- Figure 5 is a. detail perspective View of one end of the card-holding attachment and bracket by which it is carried.

Referring to the drawings, the platenframe is shown as comprising a base or cross-piece 10 having end plates 11 secured thereto by screws 12. The platen 13 is carried by ansaxle 14, mounted in the end plates 11 and having at its right-hand end a knob or finger-piece 15 for turning the platen. For guiding the sheet, which is indicated at 16, around the platen, there is provided the usual guide table and apron 17 the forward end of which carries a pressure feed roll 18. The apron 17 may be pivoted by means (not shown) to the platen-frame to have a rocking movement to release the pressure-roll 18 from the platen so that the sheets may have free movement in being inserted; and springs (not shown) serve to holdthe apron 17 in its normal position with the pressureroll 18 against the platen.

Mounted to, rock on pins 19, one carried by each end plate of the platen-frame, are arms 20, the forward ends of which support a rod 21. Slidably mounted upon. and secured to 5 forward face 29 of which is J? frame riding on roller-bearings end 23 thereof, is turned around the rod 21, and, at the other end thereof, is offset to provide ears 24 to serve as a bearing for a paper-finger roll 25. The upper ends of the paper-fingers 22 may be offset, as at 26, to form finger-pieces whereby the paper-fingers may be pulled forward to release the paperfinger rolls 25 from the platen. The springset of the paper-fingers 22 is such as to cause the rolls 25 normally to bear upon the platen. The arms 20, which support the paperfingers, are wedgeshaped, as at 27, beyond the rod 21, and over this wedge-shaped por tion is folded a strip of sheet-metal 28, the graduated to provide a letter-space scale 30. The strip 28 is secured to the arms 20 by means of screws 31. The scale 30 normally lies close to the platen, but may be drawn therefrom to provide freedom of movement for the sheets by reason of the pivotal mounting of the arms 20 on the pins 19. Leaf-springs 32, secured at one end by the screws 31 to the scale-plate 29, bear at the other end against the inside faces of peripheral flanges 34011 the end plates 11, and thereby tend to urge the scaleplate to normal position and to assist the spring-action of the paper-fingers in urging the latter to normal position; and to hold these parts in normal position against acci dental displacement.

The platen-frame carriage has letter-feed and return movement on a shift-frame 35; the plate or cross-piece 10 on the platen 36 supported on a rail 37 carried by the shift-frame. Secured to the shift-frame, by means of screws 38, is a sheet-metal plate 39, the upper portion of which forms the usual wing-scale 40 at the printing position; the plate 39 having a slot 41 through which the types 42 strike the platen. A finger 43, formed on the upper end of this plate 39, serves to hold the work-piece to the platen in immediate proximity to the printing position.

The mechanism thus far described is that found in the Underwood standard portable typewriting machine. The cardholding attachment of the present invention and the means by which the same is held in position, are as follows:

A flat bar 44, extending longitudinally of the platen. has right-angular offsets 45 at the ends thereof, which are secured by screws 46 to the side plates 47 of right and left hand sheet-metal brackets 48. Carried by the bracket-plates 47, one at each end thereof, is a solid metal feed-roll 49 having small pivots 50 which run in bearings 51, preferably of phosphor bronze, on the bracket-pieces 47. The brackets 48 have front plates 52, the lower portions of which are shown as vertically disposed, and the upper portions 53 of which are oflset forward. Stamped rearward out of each bracket is a tongue 54, having a detent therein at or near the bend therein. The front plates 52 of the brackets are of such width as to snugly and slidably fit between the ears 24 of the paper-fingers 22; and are thin enough to pass easily between the rear faces of the paper-fingers 22 and the paper finger rolls 25. In sliding the brackets downward into position, the spring-tongues 50 thereof yield on contact with the paperfinger rolls until the detents 55 in the tongues register with the rolls in the home position of the brackets, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. By means of the spring-action of the tongues, and of the detents 55, the brackets are held in position against accidental displacement. In this position, as shown in Figure 2, the elongated cardholding roller 49 is caused to bear upon the platen by reason of the spring-action of the paper-fingers; the paper-finger rolls 25 themselves being held back from the platen by reason of the roller 49.

lVhen a card is to be inserted, the roller 49 may be swung forward from the platen, as shown in Figure 3. The upper ends 53 of the bracket front plates may serve as linger-pieces for effecting this movement of the brackets with the roller. The bearing of the brackets on the rear faces of the paper-fingers and the engagement of the tongues 54 of the brackets with the paperfinger rolls 25 cause the paper-fingers to swing forward as a unit with the brackets when the finger-pieces 53 are drawn forward. In this operation, the arms 20 may be rocked slightly forward to move the scale 30 from the platen. When the finger-pieces 53 are released, the spring-action of the paper-fingers, assisted by the leaf-springs 32 on the scale, causes the parts to be returned to normal position with the roller 49 against the inserted card.

To remove the card-holding attachment when the same is not desired, it is simply necessary to seize the free ends 53 of the bracket-plates and to draw it upward until the spring-tongues 54 on the brackets cam themselves clear of the paper-finger rolls 25.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a work-guiding member for co-operating with the platen to control the work, a bracket serving as a support for said work-guiding member, and a paperfinger on the carriage in which finger the bracket is removably mounted.

2. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other work-piece to the platen, bearings for the opposite ends of the roll, and means urging said bearings individually toward the platen, whereby both ends of the roll will be pressed firmly against the platen and the pressure throughout the length of the roll will be substantially uniform, tl1e roll itself acting as a pressure distributor or equalizer. r

3. An attachment for a typewriting machine having a cylindrical platen and paperfingers to run upon the opposite margins of work-sheets inserted around the platen, comprising a roll to bear against the platen above the printing line to assist in guiding and feeding the work when applied to the 5 machine, bearings for theroll at the ends thereof, and-means on the bearings for detachably securing the bearingsto the paperfingers of the machine in mechanically-predetermined relation thereto. 1

4. Anattachment for atypewriting machine having a cylindrical platen and paperfingers to run upon the opposite margins of Y work-sheets inserted around the platen, comprising a roll to bear against the platen above the printing line to' assist in guiding and feeding the work when applied to the machine, bearings for the roll at the ends thereof, and automatically-acting springdetents on the bearings "for securing them yieldingly to the paper-fingers ofthe machine, the arrangementbeing such that the operator may remove the attachment from the machine by pulling it with suficient force to overcome the force of said springdetents.

5. An attachment for a typewriting machine having a carriage and a rotary platen therein to facilitate the writing of cards upon the machine which comprises a cardguiding member arranged to press a card toward the platen above the line of writing, supports for said member, and spring wedges having said supports for securing the attachment upon the carriage in predetermined relation thereto, the arrangement being such that the operator may remove the attachment from the machine by pulling it with sufiicient force to overcome the spring action of said wedges.

6. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, paper-fingers mounted to run upon the opposite margins of worksheets inserted in the machine, springs pressingthe paper-fingers against the platen, the paper-fingers being movable against the force of the springs to separate them from the platen, and an attachment comprising a roll to bear against the platen above the printing line and bearings for the roll. secured to the paper-fingers, the roll being movable with the paper-fingers away from the platen against the force of the springs which urge the paper-fingers towards the platen.

detent notches carried by 7. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platelrcarriage, paper-fingers on the carriage, adjustable lengthwise of the platen to press the opposite margins of sheets of various widths against the platen, and a roll supported at one side by one of the paper-fingers and at the other side by another of the paper-fingers, for holding a card or other work-piece to the platen, the adjustability of the paper-fingers also enabling them to be properly spaced to receive the ends of-the roll and to adjust the roll lengthwise of the platen.

8. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, resilient paper-fingers on the carriage, adjustable lengthwise of the platen, and a roll supported at one side by one of the paper-fingers and at the other side by another of the paper-fingers, for holding a card or other work-piece tothe platen, the resilient paper-fingers acting individually to press the opposite ends of the roll toward the platen.

9. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other work-piece to the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, and a paper-finger on the carriage, in which finger the bracket is removably mounted. 1

10. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other work-piece to the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, a paperfinger on the carriage, in which finger the bracket is removably mounted, and means whereby, upon movement of the bracket over the paper-finger, the bracket will be automatically locked to the paper-finger with the roll in correct position with respect to the platen.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other Work-piece to the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, a paperfinger on the carriage, in which finger the bracket is removably mounted, and a spring detent whereby, upon movement of the bracket over the paper-finger, the bracket will be automatically locked to the paperfinger with the roll in correct position with respect to the platen.

12. In a .typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other work-piece to the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, a paperfinger on the carriage, a roll carried by the paper-finger, which latter roll, in the absence of the first-mentioned roll, serves to hold work-sheets to the platen, and means on the bracket,engageable with the roll on the paper-finger, for detachably securing the bracket to the paper-finger.

13. In atypewrit-ing machine, a planten, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other Work-piece to the platen, a bracket &

serving as a bearing for the roll, a paperfinger on the carriage, a roll carried by the paper-finger, which latter roll, in the absence of the first-mentioned roll, serves to hold worksheets to the platen, and a resilient sheet-metal finger cut and bent out from the body of the bracket, engageable with the roll on the paper-finger, for detachably securing the bracket to the paper-fin- "er.

a 14. In a typewriting machine, aplaten, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other Work-piece to the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, a papen finger on the carriage, a roll carried by the paper-finger, which latter roll, in the absence of the first-mentioned roll, serves to hold Work-sheets to the platen, and a re silient sheet-metal finger cut and bent out from the body of the bracket, engageable with the roll on the paper-finger, for detachably securing the bracket to the paperfinger, said last-mentioned finger being detented for engagement with the roll on the paper-finger.

15. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a roll for holding a card or other work-piece t0 the platen, a bracket serving as a bearing for the roll, apaper finger on the carriage, a rollcarried by the paper-finger, which latter roll, in the absence of the first-mentioned roll, serves to hold Work-sheets to the platen, and a finger on the bracket, insertable between the paperfinger and the roll carried by the latter, for I detachably securing the bracket to the paper-finge' 16. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a platen-carriage, a device for holding cards or other Work-pieces to the platen, comprising a bar extendinglengtlnvise of the platen, a bracket on each end of the bar, a roller having bearings in the brackets, paper-fin gers on the carriage, and means for detachably securing the brackets to the paperfingers; the paper-fingers being independently adjustable lengthwise of the platen to register with the brackets in any desired position of the roller.

17. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a

platen-carriage, a roll extending'longitu'dinally of the platen from one side to the other side of the printing point or station, means on the carriage for engaging the opposite ends of the roll to hold it to the platen, and means whereby said holding means may be adjusted toward and from each other to accommodate different lengths of rolls.

ALFRED G. F. KUROl/VSKI. \Vitnesses CATHERINE A. NEWELL, JENNIE P. THORNE. 

